What is Visual Basic? History, Features and Applications

Are you a developer, who’s tasked with creating a user-friendly application in record time? If so, then you might wonder what tools to turn into. This is when the Visual Basic comes into play, a language that has revolutionised the way you approach programming. But What is Visual Basic, and why has it remained a cornerstone in software development for decades? From its inception in 1991, Visual Basic has empowered developers to build robust applications with ease because of its intuitive syntax and powerful visual tools. 

Moreover, Statista, states that VB is preferred by 4.07% developers across the world in 2023. Given this circumstance, understanding What is Visual Basic can be your gateway to rapid application development, enabling quick iterations and seamless updates, especially when preparing for Visual Basic Interview Questions. Let’s dive into this blog to discover how it continues to shape the world of software development.

Table of Contents 

1) Understanding What is Visual Basic

2) How Does Visual Basic Work?

3) Core Features of Visual Basic

4)  Uses of Visual Basic  

5) What Does C Mean in Visual Basic?

6) What are the Pros and Cons of Visual Basic?

7) Conclusion

Understanding What is Visual Basic?

Visual Basic (VB) is an Object-Oriented Programming Language and development environment created by Microsoft in 1991. It evolved from the earlier ‘BASIC’ language, which stands for ‘Beginners All-purpose Symbolic Instruction Code’. Within the VB framework, developers can use GUI-based features to modify code by dragging and dropping objects, allowing them to define the behaviour, function, and appearance of various objects using graphical elements.

VB is considered an event-driven language that is easy to learn and write code in. It is designed to boost Rapid Application Development (RAD), enabling the creation of application prototypes with minimal focus on complex coding in the early stages of development. 

RAD employs adaptive software development, where developers prioritise building prototypes over extensive planning, enabling quick iterations and the introduction of software updates without the need to write complex code from scratch. In this process, tools like the Visual Basic For Loop are often utilised to streamline repetitive tasks efficiently, supporting rapid development cycles.

History of Visual Basic

Unlike other programming languages, BASIC incorporated several common English words into its syntax, making it more user-friendly and easier for end-users to learn and remember. This user-friendliness was a key reason Microsoft sought to develop another programming language rooted in BASIC, adding to the list of programming languages designed with accessibility in mind.

Another motivation for releasing Visual Basic (VB) was the ‘visual’ aspect of BASIC. Microsoft developed an Integrated Development Environment (IDE) for VB called ‘Visual Studio’, which utilised graphical components to design software modules. This allowed developers to easily resize menus, buttons, and text using graphical elements, rather than designing each component individually.

In 1998, Microsoft released the last version of VB — Visual Basic 6. It has since been replaced by other versions such as VB .NET, Visual Basic for Applications (VBA), and Visual Studio .NET. Today, VBA and Visual Studio .NET are the two most commonly used VB platforms across organisations. 

Due to its easy interface, simple syntax, and visual tools, VB remains among the top 25 popular programming languages worldwide. According to March 2023 statistics from  Popularity of Programming Language (PYPL), VB is ranked 21st in the popularity index with 0.53% of the market share.

How Does Visual Basic Work?

Visual Basic (VB) is a powerful tool for designing Windows applications using a Graphical User Interface (GUI). The design console in VB is divided into three main components:

1) Toolbox on the left

2) Design workspace in the middle

3) Properties menu on the right

In the design workspace, you'll find the form window where you can add various controls from the toolbox, such as buttons, textboxes, labels, and picture boxes. Each control can trigger different events like Click, DoubleClick, KeyDown, KeyUp, and MouseMove.

Developers write subroutines for these events, known as "Event Procedures." These procedures handle user actions like starting a program, pressing a key, moving the mouse, or closing the program. When an event occurs, the project executes the associated instructions.

Once all UI elements, subroutines, and other code are in place, the VB application is ready to run. You can start the application by pressing the F5 key or selecting RUN > START from the menu. The code for the application can be viewed in the 'Code Window,' where all commands are listed.

Creating a Simple VB Application:

1) Select File > New Project.

2) Click the VB application wizard icon in the 'New Project' dialog box.

3) Click Next to move through the dialog boxes. The wizard keeps default values but allows you to edit them.

4) The wizard includes an 'Internet connectivity' option, enabling the application to access the web and share with online users.

5) Before the final step, the wizard offers options to interface with database programs like Microsoft Access.

6) Click FINISH. The wizard builds the menu and adds it to forms.

7) After closing the final dialog box, the application development environment appears, where you can view forms and code modules by double-clicking the project window.

8) Run the program to test and see how it displays on the screen.

Different Versions of VB:

1) Visual Basic .Net: This version, implemented in Visual Studio, is similar to the BASIC language but includes elements from Object Pascal and C. The VB code is compiled into object code and linked to create an executable (.exe) file that can run independently of Visual Studio.

2) VBA (Visual Basic for Applications): Typically used within Microsoft Office programs like Access, Excel, and Word. VBA code is tokenised, compiled, and executed within the Office application, and cannot generate standalone .exe files.

Since its inception in 1991, Visual Basic has evolved significantly. Each version has unique features and workflows, making it a versatile tool for developers.

Core Features of Visual Basic 

VB is renowned for its ease of use and visual capabilities, but its depth extends well beyond that surface appeal. Its robust architecture and versatility stem from an array of fundamental features that have stood the test of time: 

1) Among its many features, VB's most pronounced is its deep-rooted support for event-driven programming. This programming paradigm is centred on the principle that actions (code executions) are driven by events, such as user actions or system prompts. 

2) VB Developers can effortlessly link a specific action, such as displaying a message, to an event. This results in coding that is intuitive and directly aligned with user interactions, streamlining both development and the end-user experience.

3) A programmer's toolkit is crucial to their efficiency and VB offers one of the most comprehensive out there. The Visual Basic IDE is not just a code editor; it's a full-fledged environment where developers can write code, design interfaces, test functionality, and debug issues. Complete with visual aids, drag-and-drop features, and real-time feedback, VB's IDE epitomises a one-stop-shop for Windows application development. 

4)  An essential part of a programmer's workflow involves reusing code segments to streamline the development process. Recognising this, Microsoft equipped VB with an exhaustive library of predefined functions and routines. From mathematical calculations to string manipulations, this library accelerates the development process, offering developers a treasure trove of ready-to-implement solutions. 

5) Given its inception as a tool tailored for Windows, VB boasts seamless integration with the OS. This ensures that applications developed with VB are inherently optimised for the Windows ecosystem, be it interfacing with Windows APIs or utilising system resources efficiently. 

6) Another feather in VB's cap is its support for ActiveX components. This allows developers to not only create but also use ActiveX controls, DLLs, and even integrate with other applications that support COM Component Object Model (COM) standards. 

7) In the modern era, software applications often require data storage and retrieval capabilities. VB facilitates easy connectivity with databases, leveraging technologies like ActiveX Data Objects (ADO) or Data Access Objects (DAO), making it straightforward to create data-driven applications. 

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Uses of Visual Basic

Visual Basic (VB) is a versatile tool that front-end and Full-stack Developers use to create customised applications with cross-platform support. It's particularly popular for applications that rely on forms, selections, and user inputs. Additionally, VB is used to develop console applications that run through the command line instead of a Graphical User Interface (GUI).

Many medium and large companies, including Microsoft, Broadcom, CrowdStrike, and doubleSlash, incorporate Visual Basic into their tech stacks. They rely on VB for tasks like inventory management, database access, data collection, and communication.

Here are some common uses of Visual Basic:

1) Database Software 

Developers often use VB to design systems that manage large databases. With VB's GUI tools, users can easily add various database functionalities without writing complex code. VB supports databases created with programs like MS Access, Oracle, MySQL, and more.

2) Game Development

While VB isn't known for producing elegant code, it provides a development environment where users can write game code using GUI tools. Rapid Application Development (RAD) makes it easier to prototype games without delving into intricate coding. Although VB has limitations with 3D animations (requiring external DLLs for 3D functionality), it's still a good choice for 2D games.

3) Web Development 

With the rise of IoT and smart devices, web applications and services have become increasingly popular. VB is used in modern Web Development to create server-side scripting programs that run on web servers rather than browsers. 

For example, Active Server Pages (ASP) use a Visual Basic environment to integrate new and existing server applications and services. VBScript, a scripting language based on VB, executes commands in the browser on the client side. Web Developers also use VB to create web forms and applications, including chatbots.

4) .Net Software Applications 

VB.Net, an evolution of Visual Basic, gives programmers access to numerous .NET libraries essential for developing software applications. These applications can range from messaging and social media platforms to e-commerce order processing and logistics management.

5) VBA Applications 

Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) is the most popular version of VB today. Microsoft uses it to develop Office apps like Excel and PowerPoint. VBA can also optimise existing apps. Its core functionality lies in the 'macros' feature, which automates tasks like word processing or creating custom charts, graphs, or tables. This automation frees users from repetitive tasks. 

For example, macros can extract data from a spreadsheet to a Word document or replicate common code portions across different programs. Companies can also use VBA outside their networks with VB's COM feature, allowing internal applications to communicate with non-Microsoft or enterprise-specific applications beyond the company's boundaries.

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What Does C Mean in Visual Basic?

In Visual Basic, the letter "C" is often associated with the concatenation operator (&). This operator is used to join two or more strings together. For example, if you have two strings, "Hello" and "World," you can concatenate them using the & operator to form "HelloWorld". This is a fundamental operation in string manipulation within Visual Basic.

What are the Pros and Cons of Visual Basic?

Visual Basic is known for its ease of use, making it accessible to beginners with its straightforward syntax and Graphical User Interface builder. It supports rapid application development through drag-and-drop features, and robust IDE tools and integrates seamlessly with Microsoft technologies. 

However, it is primarily limited to the Windows platform, which restricts cross-platform development. Additionally, it may have performance issues compared to lower-level languages like C++ and offers less flexibility and control over code compared to languages like C# or Java.

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Conclusion 

In summary, by understanding What is Visual Basic, you can transform the programming landscape with its intuitive syntax and dynamic visual tools. Since its inception, Visual Basic, including VB .NET and VBA, has remained a cornerstone for rapid application development. It’s the essential toolkit that bridges simplicity with powerful software creation.

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